Gloucester Rugby have won just one of their last four Premiership Rugby encounters, over reigning champions Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm in round 1. Gloucester’s most recent home defeat was also against Exeter, in round 22 last season.

Worcester Warriors have lost their last five Premiership Rugby matches since beating Bath 25-19 at Sixways in April. The Warriors have not won away from home in Premiership Rugby since a visit to Harlequins in March 2016.

The last three encounters between the two clubs have been evenly split with a win apiece plus a draw, whilst Worcester’s only previous victory at Kingsholm was 13-6 in Premiership Rugby in April 2009.

Bath Rugby’s record over the last eight rounds of Premiership Rugby is an even, won four lost four, whilst their only defeat at the Recreation Ground in any competition since New Year’s Eve was to Wasps in round 17 of Premiership Rugby.

Newcastle Falcons’ four-game winning run in Premiership Rugby ended in Philadelphia on Saturday with their 7-29 reversal to Saracens. The Falcons have won their last two away games at Bristol and at Sale, but have not won three in a row on the road since 2013.

The last four encounters between the two clubs in Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Falcons have not won in Bath since October 2009.

Harlequins have won their last two Premiership Rugby matches, against Gloucester and Wasps, but have not won three in a row in the tournament since May 2014. Quins lost just twice at the Twickenham Stoop last season in Premiership Rugby, against Leicester and Exeter.

Leicester Tigers ended a three-game losing run in Premiership Rugby with their 24-10 victory over Gloucester at Welford Road on Saturday. The Tigers record on the road in Premiership Rugby last season was won six, lost five.

Tigers achieved the season’s double over Harlequins last year for the first time since 2010/11. Leicester have not won three games in succession against the Londoners since 2008 and have won on their last two visits to the Twickenham Stoop, against Harlequins in February and Exeter in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup in March.

Saracens last six matches in all competitions have been evenly split with three wins and three defeats. Saracens have lost just one of their last 24 home games in all competitions at all their home venues; 10-32 to Leicester in the semi-final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup in March – their most recent defeat at home in Premiership Rugby was to Northampton at Allianz Park in March 2016.

Sale Sharks have gained just three victories in their last seven Aviva Premiership Rugby contests but tallied four-try bonus points in that sequence. Sale have won just once away from home in Premiership Rugby in May 2016: 31-13 at relegated Bristol last October.

Saracens are unbeaten in their last six matches against Sale, whilst the Sharks only victory in their last twelve fixtures with Saracens was 14-10 at AJ Bell Stadium in February 2015. Sale have won only once on Saracens soil in Premiership Rugby history: 40-32 at Vicarage Road in September 2005.

Exeter Chiefs only defeat in Premiership Rugby since last October was 21-28 at Gloucester on the opening evening of the new season. The Chiefs have not been defeated at Sandy Park in the competition since Bath were the visitors in round 7 last season.

Wasps lost their 100% winning record with their home defeat to Harlequins on Sunday but have lost only two of their last eight away games in Premiership Rugby – at Sale and at Harlequins.

Exeter have lost just one of their last six encounters with Wasps in Premiership Rugby: 20-25 at the Ricoh Arena in September 2016. Wasps have never won in ten previous visits to Sandy Park in all tournaments, although they did draw there 35-all in round 14 last season.

London Irish have lost their last two Premiership Rugby matches 7-37 at Exeter and 7-36 at Sale.

The Exiles have won their last three matches at Madejski Stadium since Jersey beat them there in the
semi-final of last year’s British & Irish Cup.

Northampton Saints have lost only one of their last four Premiership Rugby matches: 24-55 to Saracens at Twickenham in the London doubleheader. The Saints have lost their last three away games in the competition.

The East Midlanders’ only loss in their last seven encounters with London Irish in Premiership Rugby
was 23-25 on their most recent visit to Reading on Boxing Day 2015.

Exeter too good for Wasps

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 16:54

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Olly Woodburn paved the way for a superb Exeter Chiefs victory over Wasps, with the Premiership champions prevailing 31-17 at Sandy Park.

A repeat of last year’s final – which was only decided by Gareth Steenson’s extra-time penalty – this clash was far more convincing from the Chiefs, who claimed a try-bonus point after Woodburn scored twice and Dave Dennis, Don Armand and Shaun Malton all also crossed.

Meanwhile, Rob Horne stole the limelight with a pair of dazzling tries to put London Irish to the sword and continue Northampton Saints' resurgence.

Exeter Chiefs 31-17 Wasps

The hosts set out as they meant to continue early on and put massive pressure on the Wasps line for the opening eight minutes, which eventually paid dividends despite strong defence from the visitors.

Dai Young's side committed men up front and two flat passes from Gareth Steenson and Lachie Turner spread the ball wide for Olly Woodburn to finish easily in the left corner.

Gareth Steenson's conversion attempt drifted wide and Wasps hit straight back; a botched line-out from the visitors saw Sam Skinner disrupt, but Ashley Johnson was the beneficiary as he reacted quicker than anybody else to snatch up the loose ball and charge over the line – Jimmy Gopperth adding the extras.

Another penalty from Gopperth, wearing the No.10 jersey, stretched the lead as Exeter were pinged for tackling a man off the ball in a line-out.

But it was the Kiwi's mistake that cost Wasps a score as he cleared long – but out on the full – and with the ball taken back inside the 22 Exeter made him pay, with Dave Dennis holding off a couple of tackles rumbling over from the line-out.

The wind again affected Steenson's touchline conversion attempt to leave the scores locked at 10-10 on 20 minutes, but Chiefs were soon out in front as Henry Slade found Don Armand and the flank produced a wonderful finish.

He smashed through Rob Miller and Josh Bassett to somehow dot down in the right corner, and it was third time lucky for Steenson with the extras from the touchline.

And two more tries either side of half-time sealed the bonus point and put the Chiefs in a commanding position.

First Slade got the better of Christian Wade with a break down the left, showing outside but delivering the ball on a plate for Woodburn inside him to score, before replacement Shaun Malton scored his first Premiership try on the hour mark.

Nothing was going Wasps' way with the usually metronomic Gopperth missing a penalty from in front of the posts, but Josh Bassett did give them a sniff with a try after Joe Simpson broke clear.

But a professional job from the Chiefs in the closing stages saw out the win, their third league triumph in a row moving them top of the table.